From Hamster Wheel to Sustainable Performance

My coachee, a senior leader, described her life like this during our coaching session:

“I'm like a hamster running on the wheel.”

Her typical days looked like this:
• Back-to-back meetings
• Lunch at her desk between meetings
• Dinner after 10pm when work calls finally end
• Sleeping late
• No time for exercise

That tension is real for many high performers.

When every day becomes a race,
when there’s no breathing space,
even thinking about how to relax feels like another task.

During our session, she wanted to explore how she could manage her stress so it wouldn’t affect her well-being.

She said to me:
“I have no time to de-stress.
Thinking about how to de-stress is stressing me.”

I was deeply concerned for her, especially given she’s managing high blood pressure and is on medication.

Because when there’s no time to reset, stress accumulates.

By the end of our session, she felt clearer and lighter.

We didn’t make drastic changes.
We focused on small steps.

Protecting your well-being is about being able to keep going without losing yourself.

Sustainable performance means:
• Delivering your best
• While respecting your limits
• And making choices that support your long-term well-being

If this resonates, you’re not alone.
And you don't have to keep running on the wheel by yourself.
Let's connect.

With C.A.R.E.®

Founder, Xel Consulting

Contact Xi Ren